Around the world, young people don’t really have the best reputation for turning out to vote. Elections and referendums are vital opportunities for a population to voice their approval of, or disagreement with, what’s going on in a country. While Ireland’ overall turnout figures are pretty darn good in an international context, it’s been a more difficult battle to get younger generations to have their say on such important issues. That said, it’s a situation that’s very gradually improving.

Stat Attack

Exact figures for young voter participation in this year’s local/European elections are still pretty sketchy, but at the last general election in 2011 the turnout figure for 18-24 year-olds was 20% below the national average. Yikes!

It’s not hugely unusual, as a lack of young voter participation is a global phenomenon rather than just an Irish problem. However, surveys conducted over the last decade have consistently shown Irish voters aged under 24 to be among the worst at going to the polls.

A European Social Survey from 2008 gave a pretty damning review of young people’s involvement in electoral politics here. According to the results, they are less inclined to vote than young people in most other European countries, and we fall 10% below the European average.

Research conducted by the Future Foundation in 2007 pinpointed young Irish voters as THE most inactive young voter block across Europe. According to their results, just a quarter of voters under 24 had turned out in the last general election, compared with 80% in Sweden.

That said, things are getting better. Although we started from a pretty low base post-2000, Ireland witnessed a 10% increase in its youth vote between 2002 and 2011.

On top of this, a recent EuroBarometer report found a fifth of 15 to 30 year-olds in this country would consider standing for election at some point in their lives. The fact that around a sixth of candidates in May’s local elections were 35 or under demonstrates how the age profile of Irish politicians is continually falling as more young people engage with the political process.

The same report also found that young people in Ireland were way, way ahead of most of our European counterparts when it came to involvement in other areas of society such as sports, youth clubs and community improvement associations. If we can be this engaged elsewhere, then surely there’s hope when it comes to our political system as well.

Get registered!

If you’re over 18 and are a citizen of the Republic of Ireland, you’re eligible to vote in any referendums and elections that take place here. However, figures released by the National Youth Council of Ireland earlier this year showed that 30% of 18-25 year-olds aren’t even registered to vote. Worse still, when you look at the 18-21 age group, the figure jumps up to 43%- that’s nearly half of potential voters under 21 who have absolutely no say in how their country is governed.

As part of National Voter Registration Day, SpunOut.ie, in conjunction with the Union of Students in Ireland, are launching a campaign to get as many young people registered to vote in next year’s referendums as possible ahead of the November 25th deadline. We’ll talk you through all the details on the registration form, and we’ll even send it off for you when you’re finished, as well as providing you with helpful voting info ahead of polling days. If you’d like to learn more about the campaign, just click here and get registering!

Ever heard of the Order of Malta Ambulance Corps? Every year, many young Irish people between the ages of 10 and 16 join the ranks of the voluntary organisation as Cadets.

These Cadets become actively involved in the community helping vulnerable groups like the elderly and people with disabilities, but they're also trained in basic like saving skills including First Aid, CPR and Home Nursing.

Having those skills can make a huge difference to their own lives too. Just ask 16-year-old Ballinrobe girl Eimear Morrin. She used them to save her mother's life.

Eimear was at home and came downstairs to discover her mother lying unconscious in the kitchen. She'd had a brain aneurysm and wasn't in a good way but, thanks to her daughter's quick thinking, she survived.

"I knew straight away to open her airways and checked her pulse and we were able to perform CPR, which I had learned through the training", she explains. "Never underestimate the value of getting the Order of Malta."

Eimear is just one of the many Cadets who've gained invaluable skills through the Order of Malta training and she's now become something of a mascot for their organisation. Her story has been entered into the Better Together video awards in the hopes of raising awareness about what the organisation does and encouraging more young people to follow in her footsteps.

If you’ve got an interest in highlighting young people’s mental health-related issues through film, you’ve got exactly three months to perfect your masterpiece for the CAST 2014/5 Film Festival.

Submissions for completed projects close on January 15, 2015, so now’s the perfect time to encourage your mates from school, college or the youth club to get filming! According to the organisers, the festival is a “call to action” for youth groups, and they want to get schools and youth organisations to produce films that “shed light on a social issue”, and offer potential solutions to the issue mentioned.

The application criteria are pretty broad, which means that your film can be a documentary, a work of fiction, or a “visually creative film” as you see fit. It should look to highlight relevant resources available in your local area, and it must:

Not exceed five minutes in length all-in-all

Be accompanied by a 30-second trailer promoting highlights of your work

Be accompanied by an A3 poster advertising the film and the concept

Show evidence of collaboration with a local or national mental health organisation

Be shown at a screening (this can be done in your school, youth organisation or local cinema, and you’re encouraged to invite everyone who may be interested, as well as the local media)

Post updates of your progress on social media while making the film

The event itself is great fun, and it’s gone from strength to strength in recent years. Last year’s festival showcased 15 short films, and was attended by the now Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald. Tickets are expected to be around €18, and that includes a two-course meal along with a souvenir red carpet photo. If you fancy yourself to be an aspiring Steven Spielberg with a great idea to publicise, get entering by clicking here.

Comhairle na nÓg have put together this brilliant little film all about Children’s Rights. If you’re under 18, all the rights described in this video apply to you, as laid out by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The video features loads of young people acting out the rights laid out by the convention. It’s really funny, and even more informative.

Speaking of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, it is 25 years old this year, and has been protecting children and young people all over the world since November 1989. It was brought into effect in Ireland in September 1992.

For more information on Comhairle na nÓg, check out their website here. For more details on your rights as laid out by this convention, The Office of the Children’s Ombudsman have launched this amazingly handy little app called ItsYourRight, which compiles all your rights as granted by the UN in one handy location on your phone or iPad. Cool, right?

Check out these motivational TED talks from 5 women who are making their mark on the world in different ways.

Sheryl Sandberg: Why we have too few women leaders

Sheryl Sandberg is Chief operating officer of Facebook and author of the best-selling Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead. In her motivational TED Talk, Sandberg delivers the distressing facts about women in business. She shares her three pieces of advice on how to become a leader. Sandberg concludes with the hope that through activism and the recognition of our potential and capabilities, women will one day even out the top.

Leymah Gbowee: Unlock the intelligence, passion, greatness of girls

Leymah Gbowee is a peace and women rights activist, leader of women’s movement that contributed to the end of the Liberian Civil War in 2003, and Nobel Peace Prize Winner of 2011. Gbowee relates her experiences traveling her home of Liberia, interacting with young women who strive for and are denied their right to education, or are abused in exchange for education. She presses the importance of the potential of girls, and what this potential can create.

Sarah Kay: If I should have a daughter

Sarah Kay is creator of Project VOICE, poet, teacher, and best-selling author. The mission behind Project VOICE is to entertain, inspire, and educate through spoken word poetry. Kay began the inklings of this mission when she was a teenager. Now, Kay travels using spoken word poetry to empower her students, to get them to release their voice, and to share her own story.

Sylvia Earle: My wish: Protect our oceans

Sylvia Earle is a marine biologist, author, and oceanographer. A renowned oceanographer and academic in her profession, Earle led the first team of all women to explore the ocean in 1970. She has dedicated thousands of hours to underwater ocean exploration, and to preserving ocean life. Her passion and commitment has driven her to educate on the importance of the ocean, and to deliver informational speeches on the harms being caused to it. This is the basis of her prize-winning TED speech. Earle shares her discoveries, and technological advancements underwater. She delivers a call for a proactive approach in protecting this imperative piece of our planet’s ecosystem.

May El-Khalil: Making peace is a marathon

May El-Khalil is founder of the Beirut International Marathon. “I believe that running can change the world”: this is how she begins her TED Speech on what drove her to create an annual running marathon in Beirut. Her country has suffered from a history of violence and division, and with the belief that running could bring unity, El-Khalil campaigned around the country talking to people from housewives to political officials, educating them on marathon running. Since the first marathon, participants have continued to grow. In 2013 the first all-women run for empowerment, in Lebanon, was held. Despite the continued divisions in Lebanon, El-Khalil’s marathon has continued to bring her people together.

Are you registered to vote? Some of you may know the answer; others won't. First off, see if you're on the register of electors here. If you're registered, great. If not, don't worry! We'll guide you through it.

This year's referendum on same-sex marraige is on 22nd May. The deadline to register to vote for this is May 6th 2015.

The annual electoral register deadline is in November each year for all new voters and those looking to change their details.

That gives you a while to get your name down on that list before the deadline ahead of what is going to be a very busy year of voting in 2015, with referendums proposed on marriage, reducing the voting age and others.

How do I register?

To get on the supplment to register in advance of the same-sex marraige referendum, you need to fill out this form.

Fill out this form if you want to register to vote for the annual register, or if you'd like some help, take a look at our voter registration pack featured at the bottom of the page.

Once this is done, your details will be added to the Register of Electors and you'll be able to vote in local, national and European elections as well as referendums (once you're eligible- just check out the details below).

My details have changed, what do I do?

If you are already on the voting register but you have moved address or need to change some details, just fill in this form and send it off as above.

Am I eligible?

If you're over 18 and an Irish citizen, you're sorted. You can vote for any person in any election for as long as you live in Ireland! If you don't meet those criteria, things can be a tad more difficult. Fear not, though, you still might be eligible to vote!

Irish citizens can vote in every election and referendum

British citizens may vote at Dáil, European and local elections

Other EU citizens may vote at European and local elections

Non-EU citizens can vote at local elections only

If you're a non-Irish citizen and want to vote in the elections here, you'll need to be an Irish resident since at least September of last year and, of course, be over 18. You'll still need to register, though, so make sure you fit at least one of these criteria and get yourself the right form and get your name down on that list!

The Know Your Rights information packs are provided by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL). They are a series of booklets designed to inform people about their rights, which the ICCL has rolled out as part of its Know Your Rights public information project. The booklet is designed to inform the general public, in clear and accessible language, of their rights in the areas of Garda search powers, arrest, interview, detention, provision of bodily samples and public order.

Information packs provided by the ICCL:

Stand up for your rights

The State gets its power from the people of Ireland through the Constitution of Ireland (Bunreacht na hÉireann). The Constitution sets out some of the rights of people who live in Ireland. We also have rights under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). All agents of the State, including An Garda Síochána, must act in line with the Constitution and the ECHR.

The Constitution is interpreted by the courts and is supplemented by more detailed laws, which must also be in line with the Constitution. The law must also follow the ECHR and its decisions. Gardaí must act according to court rulings and legislation, otherwise they may be breaking the law.

If you have any doubts about the way you have been treated by the Gardaí, or if they have interfered with any of your rights, you should contact a solicitor.

The Irish No Hate Speech Movement is currently looking to recruit a number of No Hate Speech Ambassadors to volunteer for a ten month period beginning March 2015.

The campaign is part of the Council of Europe project Young People Combating Hate Speech Online running between 2012 and 2015. The project stands for equality, dignity, human rights and diversity. It is a project against hate speech, racism and discrimination in their online expression. The working methods are awareness raising, advocacy, and it also seeks creative solutions. It is a project for action and intervention. The project equips young people and youth organisations with the competences necessary to recognise and act against such human rights violations.

Purpose of the Role

The main function of the role is to support the work of the Irish No Hate Speech Movement in the provision of support and information on college campuses and other youth orientated venues. This role would suit students and young people with an interest in current affairs and with an understanding of human rights issues.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Provide regional support to the work being carried out by the Irish No Hate Speech Movement;

Promote the work of the Movement and its human rights agenda on campus and in youth organisations via workshops and meetings;

Address individual incidents of online hate speech through social media and liaise with hate speech experts when appropriate;

Requirements

We would encourage anybody with prior knowledge and interest in the area of hate speech to apply. The Irish campaign is ideally be looking to recruit volunteers between the ages of 18 and 25 however; applications from people outside this age group will be considered. The role does not require the applicant to be studying at third level although it would be an advantage.

Knowledge and skills relevant to the role

No experience required however, previous experience working in a similar position will be taken into consideration;

Commitment to social justice and human rights;

Enthusiastic and motivated;

Computer literate;

Ability to work under your own initiative;

Social media skills;

Please apply by sending a CV/resume of your appropriate skills and cover letter, outlining your suitability for the role to anne@nyci.ie. Please indicate 'No Hate Speech Ambassador’ in the subject line.

What you can expect to gain from being involved

Volunteers will receive training. Initial training will be provided regionally where possible.

You will get to know and work with other like-minded campaigners.

Your creative skills will be given an opportunity to shine and get exposure.

There will a few central events during the year that will be used for upskilling and sharing.

The skills that will be developed over the course of the campaign will enhance each volunteer’s CV. Recognition of proven skill sets will be acknowledged by the National Campaign Committee

If you have any queries you can contact Anne on anne@nyci.ie or 01 4784122
The National Youth Council of Ireland is the coordinator of the campaign in Ireland
The National Campaign Committee consists of a range of NGOs and a number of individuals

Transition Years in St Columba's College, Stranorlar, Donegal, recently created a video as part of a project on mental health in their school. The TYs looked at the issue of positive teenage mental health and how best to maintain it. Through their research they found that the medium of music and talking about the challenges they faced helped them.

It also highlighted the influence of positive role models in their lives and as a result, they invited Maria Walsh, Rose of Tralee, 2014 t their school. Maria, who has done extensive work in this particular area, praised the group's efforts when she visited them in January.

The TY group have entered the video and their research findings in the Young Social Innovators programme, a nationwide competition.

Student Slingshot Academy is a once-a-month school where exceptional third-level students and industry professionals will lead, teach and mentor transition year students. The areas include computer programming, medicine, law, journalism, marketing, finance, language, art and many more areas of development. This will all take place once a month in the heart of Dublin in Filmbase from March 15th. Applications close on March 7th so there’s still time to get your application in.

More info

The Slingshot Academy, a sequel to the successful Student Slingshot aims to brings Ireland’s brightest student thinkers & doers together with the next generation of transition year students. This generation of transition year students will be given the chance to learn and work with Ireland's leading undergraduates. These leading students will be teaching our next generation of innovative scientists, actors, olympians, doctors, tradesmen, linguistics, engineers, architects, lawyers or any career path and or talent they choose to develop.

Students will take part in hands-on integrated learning where theory and practical action comes to life. TY Students will have the opportunity of learning 1 hour each of conversational Mandarin, the chance to play the first notes of piano, the first steps of creativity, art and design and the importance of social enterprise in our community and much more. The Slingshot Academy are committed to shaping the future of Ireland's children and giving them skills and life experiences that no classroom environment can offer.

Student Slingshot Academy inaugural session will take place on Sunday morning March 15th from 10:30 to 14:00 and will reoccur on April 19th and May 3rd in the modern and creative FilmBase exhibition space in Dublin 2.

Three 30 minute classes on various themes, including science & maths, modern languages, design and public speaking among others.

Classes will be taught by exceptional undergraduate students in an interactive and engaging manner in a workshop style setting.

60 Transition Year students from all around the country will be selected to attend each academy.

Do you have a story to tell? If so, The Moth, in partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Dublin, have a pretty cool opportunity for you.

The Moth is an acclaimed U.S. based non-profit organisation dedicated to the art and craft of personal stories told live. They’ve presented more than 15,000 stories, at live events, to standing-room-only crowds worldwide. Many of these live events are recorded and distributed online as podcasts, which you can check out to get a feel for what they do.

They are hosting two storytelling workshops in Dublin at SpunOut.ie Towers this April, on the theme of ‘Game Change’. They want you to pinpoint a moment in your life when everything changed for you, where you turned a corner, where you flipped a switch. At the workshops, you’ll be taught how to craft these moments into dynamic and engaging stories to be performed out loud.

The stories told must be true and relating to the theme. Here are a few suggested prompts to get you thinking on the theme:

Things changed for me when…

I am who I am today because of…

Tell us about a time you had to stand up for yourself…

Tell us about a time when you participated in- or started- a campaign to cause change…

Have you ever stood up for someone who was different?

Workshop participants will also be invited to attend a reception at the U.S. Ambassador's residence in the Phoenix Park on the evening of April 8th from 6pm - 8pm.

Workshop Logistics

The workshops are free of charge. There are 32 places for young people (aged 18-25) from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, with 16 participants in each workshop.

The workshops will take place on Wednesday April 8th at 9:00am-11:30am (Dublin participants) and 12:30pm-3:00pm (participants from Northern Ireland and long distances), at SpunOut.ie Towers in Temple Bar, Dublin 2.

Travel and accommodation expenses will be paid to participants and lunch will be provided.